Fuego Nuevo (New Fire)

Fuego Nuevo (New Fire) by artist Cesar Viveros was located in the Olde Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This mural reflects the history and culture of Mexican Americans and their contributions to Philadelphia. Iconographic imagery includes the “Mestizaje,” and the Virgin of Guadalupe. More contemporary figures are Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo.

The bottom of the mural shows the foundation of a long ago civilization representing the ancient Mesoamerican cultures that flourished during a period of more than 3,000 years on what is today Mexico and Central America. The stone Sun, or Aztec Calendar as it is known in modern times, is a tribute to the passage of time that was carefully studied by these ancient cultures, and shows the high degree of scientific knowledge that they developed. The Mayan high relief shows two chieftains reaching peace through dialogue, exchanging ideas to achieve a better understanding of each other.

Location Note: Mural no longer on view at this location (covered by construction in 2017).